I think that would lead to the second design, where there are diagonal paths connecting every building. In the absence of paths people will walk the most conven

I think that would lead to the second design, where there are diagonal paths connecting every building. In the absence of paths people will walk the most convenient (shortest) routes. Wanting a large green space at the center is an argument against convenient paths. So the decision wasn't about where to which paths are shortest and most convenient for getting from building to building, but about whether or not the paths should be shortest.